Monday, February 15, 2010

Of Hostals, Hostels, and other accommodations in Spain

Whenever someone asks me for advice on accommodations in Spain, I always suggest they look at hostals.

"Hostels?" they react, usually with an expression of indignant surprise.

"I don't want to stay in some crowded domitory with 19 other snoring people, no matter how cheap!" they exclaim.

"No, not hostels....host-ALs," I tell them. "They can be fantastic places to stay inexpensively."

Hostals (or hostales) are small two-star hotels, usually family-run, found across Spain. They provide excellent value for money, and include locations right in the heart of the most popular cities and towns in Spain.

First, let's be clear on the hotel star rating system. Although the qualifications differ from country to country (and, indeed, even from region to region in Spain), they are NOT an indication as to the quality of the accommodation. Rather, they indicate the facilities and amenities available. Most star systems cover things like room size, washroom and bathrooms available (en suite or down the hall), access to elevators, restaurants on site, staffing, air conditioning, and the like. Because of that, it's very possible to come across an immaculate, even luxurious two-star hostal, or a dirty, inefficient, unfriendly four-star hotel.

Let's look at an example.

When I am in Madrid for a few days, I like to stay at the Hostal Cruz Sol. It's located on the north side of quiet Plaza Santa Cruz, a long block from the Puerta del Sol, and only steps from the Plaza Mayor. But since it's not on the direct route between those two tourist attractions, you don't see the massed crowds moving from one location to another.

View Larger Map
With several small cafes on the plaza or nearby, you can easily grab breakfast or lunch, or just pause for a coffee as you're heading in or out.

The rooms are small but well appointed. The owners renovated the entire third floor of the building a few years ago, so everything is new. Each room is equipped with a shower stall and a sink....the toilets are just down the short hallway. They do have a "family room" that can sleep three, and has a complete ensuite.

The cost for all of this? At time of writing, their rates were 43 Euro per night for a single, 58 for a double, and 85 for the triple family room! While many "hostels" are offering semi-private rooms these days, their charges are per person. For two or more people, you'll probably get a better deal at a "hostal," without the chance of all those late-night party-goers rumbling past your room.

You won't find restaurants or coffee shops at hostals; you won't even be served breakfast, but it's been my experience that most hotel breakfasts are overpriced. And your goal is to get out and mix with the locals, anyway! You may also find that the staff have a limited command of English, and there may not be staff on duty 24 hours a day. But the quality for the price you pay is hard to beat.

How to locate "hostals" in Spain:

Most "hostel" booking websites will also list "hostals;" just look for that key word. Many hotel booking websites also list them. Try to narrow the results to two-star accommodations, and you'll find "hostals" popping up all over the place! Read the reviews from two or more sites, and make your booking. But remember; during Spanish holidays and the summer tourist season, hostals fill up rapidly, so reserve as far in advance as you can.

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